Two Nonprofits Partner to Add 17,500 Jobs to Youth Jobs+ Program

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blue jobs street sign DirectEmployers Association and the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) have pledged to participate in the Youth Jobs+ program, adding a combined 17,500 job openings to the Youth Jobs+ bank.  The program stems from the 2012 Summer Jobs+ initiative, both deriving from President Obama’s challenge to businesses, non-profits, and government to work together to provide steps to employment for low-income and disconnected youth.

“As teens begin looking for summer employment, they will again face a very tough job market,” said Rich Hobbie, Executive Director, NASWA. “Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the nation’s teen unemployment rates are holding strong at 24.1%, making it all the more important for organizations to participate in this initiative.”

The program objects to provide employment opportunities to the nation’s youth, while helping to reduce poverty and violence. New jobs from the partnership, or the National Labor Exchange, will enable job seekers to view openings through a simple keyword search method. Youth can locate summer jobs on any of the National Labor Exchange’s hosted websites at http://Youth.jobs, http://Summer.jobs and http://Internship.jobs.

“Both NASWA and DirectEmployers recognize that our future lies in the hands of our youth. We believe there is no better way to cultivate work ethic and a general understanding of business than through the hands-on experience that job opportunities provide,” said Bill Warren, Executive Director, DirectEmployers Association.

Along with the partnership, DirectEmployers plans to another host a Youth Summer Enhancement Program—a weeklong initiative designed to expose a group of high school students to daily business operations and shadowing opportunities. This program is designed to prepare participants for college and future job opportunities and foster professional development.

By Shala Marks